Opener and closer for garage door and other closures for openings



Oct El E937. F. W. RIVERMAN ET Al. 2,995,267

OPENER AND CLOSER FOR GARAGE DOOR AND OTHER CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS Filed Aug. 23, 1935 2 sheeisnsheeffl l Oct., E2, 1937. E. w. RIVERMAN ET Ax. OPENER AND CLOSER FOR GARAGE DOOR AND OTHER CLOSURES FOR PENINGS Filed Aug. 23, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES OPENER'AND CLOSER FOR GARAGE DOOR N AND OTHER CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS Frank W. Riverman and Hubert E. Melchior,

, Portland, Oreg.

Application August 2s, 1935, serial No. 5:7,543

4 Claims.

`Our invention relates to improvements in garagexdoor opening and closing mechanism.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple, preferably electrically operated mechanism, located inside of a garage, but controlled from points outside or inside of the garage, and suitable for` opening and closing the garage doors and securing the doors against reopening except by said mechanism, thus dispensing with a separate door lock; also to hold the doors firmly open against being blown shut by the wind.

A further object of our invention is to provide an opening and closing device suitable for the n ordinary type of garage doors which swing on hinges, and open outward.

. Anotherrobject of our invention isto provide such a device having a minimum number of" parts, so that the said device will require only a minimum amount of care in its upkeep, will be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and.

can be quickly and easily set upV in any ordinary garage by an ordinary mechanic.

Anotherobject of our invention is to provide a mechanism which will dispense with all-unnecessary gears and unnecessaryparts in sliding and frictional engagement, which require frequent oiling and care and which might have a tendency to bind or stick or to become blocked, thus interfering with the satisfactory operation of the device.

Another object of our invention is to provide a garage door opener for garages provided with doors of unusual size as well as for garages with doors of the usual size. Y

A particular object of our invention is to construct and set up a rotatable arm, to which the garage doors may be connected, in such manner that the rotation of such arm within the garage will alternately open and close the .garage doors together, and which may be adjusted to be adapted both for garage doors opening outward and garage doors opening inward.

Our further object is to provide a combination consisting of a device of the character mentioned located within a garage, an electric motor operating said device and a simple electric trip- Y switch by which the operation of the said device will be automatically halted when thevdoors are closed, or when the doors have been opened the desired distance. p Y

The above described objects and incidental features we attain by the construction hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View looking down on the top of the mechanism controlling the operationY of vour garage door opener Vand Acloser;V

Fig. 2'is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 1; f

Figs. 3 .and 4 are partial smaller-scale plan views illustrating the operation of our device, Fig. 3 showing the garage doors opened, and Fig. 4 the garage doors closed;

Figs. 5 and 6 show details `of parts of our device hereinafter described; p

Fig. 7 is a fractional view, partly diagrammatic, showing the switch control for our device when operated by aril electric motor; and

Fig. 8 is a view inperspective illustrating a possible modication in the construction of .the Ycrank arm which is an essential part of our de- Vice. Y

Referring first -toFigs 1 and 2, w denotes the supportingy skeleton frame which is preferabli7 made with a number of claws or raised flanges b, adapted to rest on top of girders c in the ceiling of the garage;` the raised ilanges bbeing secured in place on the` girders' c byV bolts ory screws d. The supporting frame includes an integral section e for' supporting an electric motor "m.. At the center of the frame d is provided an upwardly extending boss d' constituting a journal bearing for a stub shaft g, to the upper end of which stub shaft the hub h' ofthe worm wheel h is keyed. A crank arm i is keyed to the lower end of said stub shaft g below the frame a.

The horizontal shaft y' driven by the motor m is journaled in a bearing j on the frame a, and said shaft i has a worm 1'2 adapted to engage with the teeth of the worm wheel h and thus to revolve the latter, and thereby rotate the crank arm i in one direction. In Fig. 1 the direction of rotation of the crank arm i and wheel h is indicated by the arrow as counter-clockwise. However, our apparatus would work equally well if the wheel and crank arm were rotated in clockwise direction instead. Y

A switch-box 7c containing various switch elements indicated in Fig. '7, described below, is sup- Y ported at one side of the frame a by bracket 7c and screws k2. Y

On the rim of the worm wheel h are provided contact lugs h3, arranged to engage the Contact finger 7c3 of the electric trip switch located with-- in switch-box lc so as to cause the electric circuit of the motor m to be opened, as hereinafter explained, in order to stop the motor and thus arrest further revolution of the wheel h. The lugs h3 are adjustable, being preferably fastened ll; O

in place by screws which can be loosened from below. Generally these lugs will be located approximately at diametrically opposite points. The exact location, however, would depend upon several factors including the speed of the motor m and the extent to which the `motor m will coast after the power has been shut off.

Allowance for the coasting is not so important in the opening of the doors but must be carefully determined for the closing of the doors so that they will t tightly against the jamb when closed. At the outer end of the crank arm i, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a second horizontal arm f is rigidly attached but spaced from the crank arm i by a wrist pin i. The angle between the members z' and f is an acute angle so that the member f will be perpendicular at its middle point to a plane passing thru the axis of rotation of the Vstub shaft g, the extremities j', i of the member f being locate-d equi-distant from the axis of rotation of the shaft g, but so that member f will not-cross said axis of rotation. Y

The members i, f thus together form a V-shaped crank arm with the wrist-pin i" located at the vertex of the angle the said members make with each other.

To the wrist-pin i' is pivotally connected a channel rod n-preferably longitudinally adjustable-the other end of which is attached to the garage door p at p" (see Figs. 3 and 4). A similar channel rod ois pivoted to the member f at f; the other end of the ro-d 0l being attached to the garage door q at q. As a. convenient means of attaching the end of rod n to the Wrist-pin i', we provide a pair of split-links n and n2 (see Fig. 6)v with the Shanks adapted to t one over the other within the interior n4 of the channel rod n, and to be held in place by a bolt passing thru the registering holes 113. The free ends of the saidsplit-links 11.', n2 have semi-circular hooks tting around the wrist-pin i', thus pivotally connecting rod n to said member f.

The distance between the points i', f', the distance of said points i', f' from the axis of' rotation of the stub-shaft g, the length of the rods n, o` and the location of the points of their attachment p', q to the doors p, q, must be such that when the doors are in closed position as shown in Figs. 4, the rods n, o will intersect each other at a point coinciding with the axis of rotation of the stub-shaft g.

The points p', q' at which the rods n, o are attached to the doors p and q must further be so lccated with respect to the hinges p2, q2 that the distance traveled by the points p', q when the doors are opened or closed will be approximately equal to the diameter of the circle described by the points i', f'.

In order that our invention may be used in garages which have doors of unusual size, we have found it desirable to make the rods n, o longitudinally adjustable as mentioned. For this purposeV the rods n, oy have extensions n', o respectively, which extensions may be secured in place by suitable means indicated at r. Y

Since the V-shaped crank arm i-f, is rigidly keyed to the stub-shaft g, to which worm wheel 71.Y is also keyed, the turning of theV worm wheel h causes the points f', i,to move in the same circular path about g as a center. During the rotation of the V-shaped crank arm the rods 7i and ol, pivotally fastened at i and f', respectively, will not interfere with each other, since the end of rod 'n will pass above the end of rod ol, and the ends of both rods will pass below the stub-shaft g.'

From Figs. 3 and 4 it is apparent that when the Vvworm wheel h and V-shaped crank arm i-f are revolved, the garage doors p and q will be opened and closed-opened when the member f of the V-shaped crank-arm is in its forward position as illustrated-in Fig. 3, and closed when said member is in its opposite or rear position, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

As a means of controlling the turning of the worm wheel h and the V-shaped crank arm i-f (such turning being caused by the rotation of shaft 7' driven by a motor m), an electric tripswitch is provided in switch box k, see Figs. '7 and 1. kil designates some suitable source of electric power to be use-d to operate the motor m. In one of the circuits of the motor m a mechanical switch k is placed operatively connected by a link k6 to anarm kl. This arm is rigidly attached to the lowerend of a vertical shaft k8, journaled in the switch-box k, and the contact finger k3 is rigidly mounted on the upper end of said shaft kB above the top o-f the switch box. A tension spring kg is arranged normally to pull the bar k1 toward the lug kl. When this occurs the switch k5 is closed, and the motor m consequently is caused to operate. Fig. 7 illustrates the switch k in open position. A latch kl l, pivoted at kl 2 in the switch box k, and held by a spring kl 'l against lug kl3 serves for the purpose of holding the arm k'l in the position shown in Fig. 7, against the pull of the spring kg, and thus keeping the switch k5 open.

A solenoid kill connected to a suitable transformer ki 5, and adapted to be energized when one of the switches kl6 is closed, causes the latch kl l to be pulled out of engagement with the arm kl upon the closing of either of the switches kl6. The pulling of the latch kll by the solenoid kl4, when the latter is energized as mentioned, causes the arm k'l to be pulled by spring kll against lug kll, and this movement of the arm k'l in turn closes the switch k5 of the motor m, causing the motor m to be operated. When this occurs, the contact nger k3 is moved to the right as shown by the broken line in Fig. 1. However, when contact linger k3 is engaged by one of the lugs h3 on the wheel h., the arm k1 is again pushed into its position as shown in Fig. 7, and the latch kl will again operate to hold it in such position, so long as the solenoid kl 4 is not energized, and thus during such time the switch k5 of the motor m will remain open.

The operation of our apparatus is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the garage doors are open, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the V-shaped crank arm i-f being in the position shown in Figs. l and 3. A switch kl, assumed to be operated by a button, is located outside of the garage, or, for convenience, within the adjoining residence of the owner of the garage. The closing of such switch kli energizes the solenoid kl!! and causes the latch kll to be pulled to the right by the solenoid, out of engagement with the end of the arm kl, permitting the latter to be pulled against lug kl@ by spring kil, and closing switch Ic5, causing motor m to operate and the worm wheel h to make a partial revolution in a counter-clockwise direction. (As mentioned before, our apparatus would work equally well if the worm wheel h turned in a clockwise direction, but in such case a slight alteration in theI arrangement of the contact finger k3 and other switch elements would be necessary.) The revolution of the wheel h continues until the lug h3 which it carries adjacent to the arm i comes into contact -causing it to stop. The wheel It then slows down and comes. to a complete stopa slight vdistance further. v The V-shaped-crankarm i-f is; now in the position illustrated infFig; 4', andthe garage doors p andq are closed. 'A repetition of said operation effected causes the wheel h to complete its revolution and the doors to befopened again, and once more to assume their open position, as shown in Fig. 3. V Our device is simple in` construction,` is practically fool-proc can be easily shipped by detaching the rods: n, and o, and is quickly and easily installed in the ordinary garage. There are no parts` sliding on each other requiring constant lubrication in order to prevent undue friction and wear, and the upkeep and care required are practically reduced toi a minimum.

In Fig. 8 we have illustrated a modified form of crank-arm which might be substituted for the V-shaped crank arm i--f above described. In the construction illustrated by Fig. 8 the crank arm consists of a radial member s rigidly mounted on the lower end of stub-shaft g, the worm wheel h being keyed tothe upper end of said stub shaft as previously described. vA U-shaped rod t, composed of sections t and t2, the section t2 being approximately twice the length of the other parallel section t', is. rigidly fastened to the end of arm s, by any suitable means, so that the sections t', t2 will both lie in the same vertical plane.

, The outer end of section t2 is turned downward perpendicularly as indicated at. til, and on this end rod o is pivoted. Thus. the rod t forms a double-throw arm. Rod 'n is pivoted on the connecting portion t3 Vof the sections t', t2. `It is necessary in this construction, as in the construction previously described,l that points t3 `and t4 be equi-distant from the shaft g andthat section t2 and points t3 and t4 be in a plane perpen.-

dicular toa plane passing thru the axis of rotation of the shaft g, and thus the points t! and t4 Y becaused to follow the same circular path` about the axis of g as al center as the wheel h is turned. As apparent the rods 11, and o, attached to the garage doors, operate. in the same way in this construction as` in that first above described, and that in all other respects the operation is identical.

While we have shown our device as used with garage doors opening outward as: is. customary, it is also adapted for use with doors opening in.- ward. In such case the closed garage doors would be connected by means of rods to the points and z" when the member f is in the forward position shown in Fig. 3. Then as the V-shaped crank arm i-f is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 4 the doors would be caused to open inward. Actually, invsuch case, our device would be placed further back inside the garage and at a comparatively greater distance from the doors than the partial` plan Vie-Ws 3 and. 4 would indicate.

While we have described the use jof our invention particularly with regard to garage doors, it is to be understood that we do not limit our invention to such use, but the same may also be used for the opening and closing of windows, gates and any closure; orfor the opening and closing of factory doors and windows; and the term garage doors is to be understood as inoluding such other and further uses of' our invention. Y

We claim: V lian operating device adapted to be located within a garage for opening a `pair of garagedoors outwardly, comprising a supporting frame below thereof of the garage, av vertical shaft' journaled in said frame, said shaft having a crank-arm, a horizontal cross-arm carried by said crank-arm, said cross-arm being spaced from said crank-arm and from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cross-arm being perpendicular to an Y intersecting radius extendedfrom said axis, and said cross-arm being arranged parallel with said doorswhen said doors are closed, rods connected to said cross-arm at points equi-distant from said perpendicular intersecting radius, said rods free to move in horizontal planes one under the other and below said crank-arm, the extremities of said cross-arm including wrist pins, means for imparting to said shaft successive half revolun tions, on one movement placing the cross-arm lin front of said axis of rotation, and in-another movement behind the same, thereby causing said rods to be drawn in and projected out, and thus successively closing and openingY said doors.

2; An operating device adapted tojbe located within a garage for opening a pair of garagedoors outwardly, comprising a supporting frame below the roof of the garage, a Vertical shaftV journaled in said frame, said shaft having a crank-arm, a horizontal cross-arm carried by the extremity of said crank-arm and making an acute angle therewith, said cross-arm being spaced from said crank-arm and from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cross-arm being perpendicular to an intersecting radius extended from said axis, and said cross-arm being arranged parallel with said doors when said doors are closed, rods connected to said cross-arm at points equi-distant from said perpendicular intersecting radius, said rods free to move in horizontal planes one under the other and below said crank-arm, the extremities of said cross-arm in- Yextremity of said crank-arm, said cross-arm being spaced from said crank-arm and from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cross-arm being perpendicular to an intersecting radius extended from said axis, and said cross-arm being arranged parallel with said doors when said doors are closed, adjustable rods connected to said crossarm at points equi-distant kfrom said perpendicular intersecting radius, said rods free to move Y in horizontal planes one under the other and'below said crank-arm, the extremities of said cross- Varm including wrist pins, means for imparting to said shaft successive half revolutions in one direction, in one movement placing the cross- Varm in front of said axis of rotation, and in another movement behind the same, vthereby caus- .ing said rods to be drawn in and projected out,

and thus successively closing and opening said doors.

4. An operating device adapted to be located Within a garage for opening a pair of garagedoors outwardly, comprising a supporting frame below the roof of the garage, a vertical shaft journaled in said frame, said shaft having a crank-arm, a horizontal cross-arm carried by said crank-arm, said cross-arm being spaced from said crank-arm and from the axis of rotation of said shaft, said cross-arrn being perpendicular to an intersecting radius extended from said axis, and said cross-arm being arranged parallel with said doors when said doors are closed, adjustable rods connected to said cross-arm at points equi-distant from said perpendicular intersecting radius,

said rods free to move in horizontal planes one under the other and below said crank-arm, the extremities of said cross-arm including Wrist pins, said rods consisting of channel bars, cooperating half-links terminating in cooperating hooks'secured in said channel bars, means for imparting to said shaft successive half revolutions in one direction, in one movement placing the cross-arm in front of said axis of rotation, and in another movement behind the same, thereby causing said rods to be drawn in and projected out, and thus successively closing and opening said doors.

FRANK W, RIVERMAN.

H. E. MELCHIOR. 

